Umbrella



0a. 7, 1941. H IERS; 2,258,196

v UMBRELLA Filed Jan. 11, 1941 INVENTOR, v do/wv AH. 5/5195 ATTOR/VEX Patented Oct. 7, 1941 Emma MATES PATENT" 1 "2%8196 i I v :HMBRELLA Y i 1 n H- ;S.iers, Jersey Cit f ,1941,5Seria1'Noattmafl v v 10.01am. (citizen This invention relates rto umbrellas, =parasols or the dike and has for its primarybbject and purpose to 1 provide certain improvements in an umbrella I having a radially extensible and collapsible frame and which are more particularly applicable to a fr-ame structureofi the-type disclosed in -P'atent-No. 20475711, issued tome on In the patented construction the 1 umbrella 'frame has telescoping rib sections to which an expansible and contractible cover sheet of elastic material'is-attached so that the cover sheet is stretched when the umbrella is opened to extend the frarne structure --andcontracts without folding when the frame is-collapsed and the umbrella closed; 'It' is the primary object of my present improvements to provide a simple and efficiently operating means carried 1 by the frame structure and coacti-ng -with a substantially inelasticcover material to automaticallyfold-said material upon itself radially of the umbrellaqframe as the latter is collapsed in closing the umbrella.

"More ;-particularly,: in a preferred-embodiment of the -invention,1I- pivotally attach to each inner rib sectionof the umbrella frame-a folding-memr p in pressed outwardly against the inner surface of v, the cover material. When the umbrella is-open and the'irame. extended, the strain orptension on the cover materialholdssaid fold-,- in .members in substantially para lel re ation to, the rib sections ,andthe spring. means thereof i's placed under stress. J Thus,,.as the umbrellais closed, innthe relative movementfof, the rib sections said ,pivotedioldin members are surged radially. outward. and againstthe cover material to :fold thelatterupon itself asthe frame ribs move inwardly to the completely closed position in parallel relationwith the umbrella staff.

Itisa, furtherobiect of the, invention to provide such an automatic folding-means for the inelastic cover; material which will operate'without; puncturing, or otherwise injuring the-cover material and-which will, compactly foldthe surplus material as theiextensible 'frameecollapses in the accompanying drawing and-subsequently incorporated in the subjoinedclaims. l l

Inthe drawing wherein I have illustrated one .simple and practical 1 embodiment of the invention and lin which similar reference characters designate .corresponding parts throughout 'the several v-iewsr I 7 Fig. 1 is a fragmentary-sideelevation; the cover material of the. umbrella being shown in section and the :frame StI'MOtU-IE in open or extended position. i I l I "Fig. 2 isa fragmentaryperspective-view showing an intermediate position of the umbrella frame and cover'folding'means Fig. '3 is r a side -elevation with the cover material shown in-=section of the completely-closed and collapsed umbrell-a. v .1 Figa is-an enlarged top plan-viewof one: of the 1 inner rib sections and i the -folding member mountedther-eon; 1

Fig. 5 is a side elevation thereof. 15 Fig. 6- is a detail transverse-section on an enlarged scale taken on the -l-ine-66 of-' Fi g. 5,-and Fig. 7-is a similar sectionalviewtaken on'the line 1-1 of Fig. 5. e I

7 Referring indetailto' the, drawing. infiwhich 1 have illustrated a; collapsible umbrellasta-if and iramestructure, anfldmwhic h is, in all materiaLrespects, substantially'the same, a s'that. shown in the issued patent above i'dentifijed,25. andt, respec tively indicate the. two collapsible staff sections (of thin walled. metal tubing, v,thelowen section? 6 being preferably telescoped Within, the up er section 5. 'The lower end of the stafifsctim tfiis provided ,Wi13h a, handle member .'1 of any. desired ornamentalform, andsuitablelatch means is provided, as in .said issued patent, for releasably retaining said staff ,sections-in extended or-telescoped relation. V i

To ethe upper end. of the stair section a5, 1 the inner rib-sections, 8, are pivotally attached atone .of theirends in :anyapproved'manner as indie .cated at e9, ,These rib sections-maybe of 1 channel s hape in ":CIOSS :section asiinsaid patented cons r i n, ra e donned: from light :sheet metal ,strip preferably aluminum. g Within each of: these, rib sections'38, an iouter longitudinally :slida-ble rib ;section r M is engaged. "I701 the 'inner end of each of theseg'rib sections l:0, =the outer end of;,a main stretcher rfod H. isupivotallyconnected; fI'he inner ends .of these? stretcher rods are pivoted: to one end of;:the runner. 1'2 whichisslid- :ably engaged ,ontthe:stafi section i This runner .carries:atsuitableilatching lever I 3 to retain said bracket element runner in its extended position on the staff section when the umbrella is open.

To each of the rods l l intermediate of its ends, one end of an auxiliary stretcher link M is pivotally connected as at l5, the other end of said link being pivotally attached as at It to staff section 5, in inwardly spaced relation from the pivoted ends 9 of the rib sections 8.

The cover material for the frame, indicated at I 1, is of silk, cotton or other substantially inelastic material and is centrally attached in any suitable manner to the end of the staff section 5. This cover sheet is of such diameter that when the umbrella is opened and the rib sections l extended with respect to the rib sections 8, as seen in Fig. 1, said cover material is under more or less tension and smoothly overlies the frame structure, the outer edge of said cover sheet being attached in any approved manner to the outer ends of the rib sections Ill. The said cover sheet is otherwise unattached to the relatively movable rib sections .8 and I0. v

To each of the-rib sections 8 in suitably spaced relation from its pivoted end 9, a sheet metal I8 is fixedly secured. This bracket element .at one of its ends isprovided at oppositesides of the rib 8 with the outwardly projectingears l9 in which the ends of the pin 29 and thus fold an intermediate section of the cover are fixed. To this pin'one end of the cover foldmember is of channel cross sectional form, and as shown in Figs. 6 and '7, the channel thereof opens outwardly in opposed relation to the cover sheet I! so thatrthe opposite edge or side-walls of said channel member will have sliding bearing contact at spaced points with the cover sheet. A coiled spring 22 on the pin acts to yieldingly urgethemember 2| radially outward from the rib 8 and against the inner surface of the cover sheet IT. The other or free end of the folding memberZl is preferably curved inwardly towards the rib 8 as shown at 23 so that in the folding action'of said member on the cover sheet, liability of cutting or puncturing the cover material will be obviated. I

The cover sheet 11 is securely attached to each of the foldingmembers 2! at the pivoted end thereof, by means of a thread or cord indicated at 24, or by any otherpreferred means. so that in the collapse of the umbrella frame and the movement of the members 2| with respect thereto, said cover material is folded upon itself at each of these pointsof attachment for a radial tions l8, against'th'e resistance 0f the springs 22, as seen in Fig. 1 of the-drawing. x

When the umbrella'is closed and'the'runner I2 moved downwardly on the staff section 5 the ribs'ections 8 are drawn inwardly towards the staff and the sections H] of each rib are also slidably moved inwardly relative to the rib sections 8. As shown inFig. 2 of the drawing, as the umbrella frame is thuscollapsed and reduced in diameter, the springs 22 act to pivotally move the members 2[ outwardly on the ribsection 8,

material upon the innermost portion of said cover extending between the pivoted ends of said folding members and the pivoted ends 9 of the rib sections 8. This folding action of the members 2! under the influence of the springs 22 continues' until the frame structure is completely collapsed and said members extend in the opposite direction from their pivots with respect to that seen in Fig. 1 and again lie in substantially parallel relation to the folded rib sections 8, which in turn are disposed in closely adjacent substantially parallel relation with the staff section 5. In this manner, as seen in Fig. 3, the

excess cover material in the collapsed condition of the frame structure is compactly folded as inmaterial between the frame ribs in overlapped relation by means of the usual tie cord or tape, the closed umbrella may be easily inserted within a-case or holder of minimum length and diameter.

In opening the urnbrel1a, after the staff section 6 has been extended from the section 5, the umbrella is held in inverted position and gently shaken so that the rib sections .8 and stretcher wardly on the latter stalf'section to distend the collapsible frame structure and open the umbrella as above described.

From the foregoing description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, it is believed that the nature of my present improvements in my prior patented invention, and the operation and advantages thereof in practical use will be fully understood. It will be appreciated that by a very simple addition to the patented structure, I am enabled to employ the ordinary substantially inelastic cover materials in accordance with conventional practice in the art instead of the special cover of elastic or radially stretchable material referred to in my issued patent. At the same time, like the patented construction, the action is entirely automatic, and no additional hand manipulation of relatively movable parts is required other than the actuation of the runner l2 in opening and closing the umbrella.

I have found that a collapsible umbrella of this type with my present improvements, operates in a very-positive and eflicient manner,and without injury to the cover fabricso that the improved umbrella willgive reliable and satisfactory service, for a period of time equal to the life of the standard umbrella.

Inthe'foregoing description and accompany-- ing drawing I have disclosed a--practical mechanical embodiment of the invention whichmay be manufactured and profitably sold at a reasonable cost to the purchaser. While I have referred to my present improvements" as applied to a collap'si'ble' frame structure of the type shown in my issu'ed patent, it is nevertheless to be understood that it is possible that such improvements may also be employed with equal efiiciency in con nection with other umbrella frame structures, and that I do not consider the present invention as necessarily limited to such specific application. Also as to the several details relative to the mounting and arrangement of the cover folding members, it is possible that changes or modifications therein may be found desirable. Accordingly, it is to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes in the form, construction and relative arrangement of the several elements as may fairly be comprehended within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with an umbrella frame pivotally connected with a staff, said frame having radially extensible and collapsible ribs, a cover material on said ribs and means for opening and closing said frame; means carried by said frame and coacting with the cover material to radially fold a section thereof upon itself in the closing movement of the frame.

2. In combination with an umbrella frame pivotally connected with a staff, said frame having radially extensible and collapsible ribs, a cover material on said ribs and means for opening and closing said frame; means carried by each frame rib and movable relative thereto, coacting with a section of the cover material to fold the same upon itself in the closing movement of said frame.

3. In combination with an umbrella frame pivotally connected with a staff, said frame having radially extensible and collapsible ribs, a cover material on said ribs and means for opening and closing said frame; a folding member pivoted at one end on each rib, and spring means urging said member outwardly against the cover to automatically fold a section of the cover material upon itself in the closing movement of the frame.

4. The structure described in claim 3 in which the cover material is attached to each folding member at its pivoted end and said material moves the folding members in one direction on the ribs in the opening movement of the frame to place said spring means under stress.

5. The structure described in claim 1 in which each frame rib comprises inner and outer sections and the cover folding means is mounted on each of the inner rib sections.

6. The structure described in claim 2 in which each frame rib comprises inner and outer rela tively movable sections and the cover folding means is mounted upon one of said rib sections for movement in the plane of the rib movement.

7. The structure described in claim 3 in which each frame rib comprises inner and outer relatively slidable sections and said folding members are mounted on the inner rib sections.

8. In combination with an umbrella frame having ribs each comprising an inner section pivotally connected with a staff and an outer section slidable on said inner section, means for opening and closing said frame operatively connected with the outer rib sections to extend and retract the same relative to the inner sections; a cover of substantially inelastic material secured. to the staff and to said outer rib sections, and relatively movable means on each inner rib section attached to the cover material and sprin pressed against the latter to automatically fold a section ofsaid material radially upon itself in the closing movement of the frame and the retraction of the frame ribs.

9. In combination with an umbrella frame pivotally connected with a staff, said frame havin radially extensible and retractable ribs and means for opening and closing said frame; a substantially inelastic cover material attached to the staff and the free ends only of said ribs, a folding member for each rib and means for pivotally mounting said member at one end on the rib, connecting means between said folding members and the cover material, and means yieldingly urging said members outwardly against the cover material to fold a section of said material radially upon itself in the retraction of said ribs, and said cover material being unfolded and moving said folding members to place said yielding means under stress when the frame is opened and said ribs extended.

10. The structure described in claim 9 in which each rib comprises an inner section pivoted to the staff and an outer section longitudinally slidable on said inner section and said opening and closing means is connected with th outer rib sections to actuate the same, and said folding members are mounted on the inner rib sections and are of approximately one-half the length of said rib sections.

JOHN A. H. SIERS. 

